< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES offer views for miles, while a bridleway goes right past the property, making it easy to head out for a walk. A lawn sits to the front of the home, with a curving walled ha-ha, beyond which stretches a paddock of about one acre. With the fens often windy, a walled courtyard, a real sun trap, provides a delightful spot to sojourn, and acts as the connecting point to the aforementioned pool complex and open plan living space, with its vaulted ceiling and exposed roof trusses, at the far end. Used frequently by the family, Hazel said: “We all swim regularly and it’s been brilliant when the children have friends over. They get straight in the pool! The best bit really is that we can sit as adults and have drinks, watching the children safely in the pool from the relaxing sitting area.” The original coach house archways, now glazed, surround the swimming pool area, and two changing rooms and separate WC run alongside, while the living area has a fitted kitchen at one end, a sitting and a dining area, and French doors open onto the courtyard. At the back is the gym and games room which could become a bedroom. Adjoining the pool building and behind the back of the home, is the double garage with automatic doors, a workshop, and storerooms. The property, which is positioned on slightly higher ground thanks to being built on an old salt works, also welcomes its fair share of wildlife, from pheasants and partridges to the occasional deer, and a plethora of bird boxes have drawn some special feathered friends, such as the ‘king of the birds’ with its bright yellow crest. The impressive monkey puzzle tree should be mentioned too, which is covered in lights and always lit up at Christmas. Despite loving the house, Peter and Hazel are now selling. Hazel said: “We’ve really enjoyed being here and we will miss it when we go. It’s a special place.” Red House Farm is on the market with Fine & Country for £1,100,000. 14-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 13:58 Page 7A S LOCAL AS IT GETS! At £950 Price includes VAT and removal of the old door PREMIUM GARAGE DOORS, BASED IN LINCOLN AT PROGLIDE LINCOLN WE OFFER ADVICE, INSTALLATIONS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN. WE ENSURE AN EFFICIENT, PROFESSIONAL GARAGE DOOR INSTALLATION SERVICE, THAT'S WHY WE OFFER A FREE 5 YEAR WARRANTY. ALWAYS DEALING WITH YOU DIRECTLY, GIVE US A CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE, NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE AS WELL AS FURTHER DETAILS ON OUR COMPETITIVE PRICES. Call Lisa, Angela or Helen in the office on 01522 581244 or 01522 790014 mark@proglidelincoln.co.uk • www.proglidelincoln.co.uk One touch remote Zero maintenance - no oiling, greasing, wire placing etc Whether you are looking for classic, traditional style or contemporary designs including the latest in media wall electric fires, we are sure to have something to suit. We also have a great selection of fireside accessories including wicker log baskets, fire-guards & companion sets, along with cleaning & maintenance products to keep your fire looking great. Plus, our ‘Outdoor Living’ fire-pits & wood-burners will keep you cosy in your garden year round. Gas – Electric – Wood-burning & Multi-fuel Burning Sensation (Grimsby) Ltd Armstrong Street, Grimsby. DN31 1XD Call: 01472 351651 sales@burningsensation.co.uk www.burningsensation.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 Oil Fired Boiler Engineer OFTEC Registered Steve Russell Plumbing • Oil Tank Replacement Service • Installation • Commissioning • Repairs • Servicing & General Plumbing • 24 Hour Call Out Call Steve on 07840 531403 BRIGG BEDS 01652 651828 Princess Street | Brigg | DN20 8HG www.briggbeds.co.uk Kingsize beds fit for Royality… 14-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 13:58 Page 822 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY LIGHTSPEED BROADBAND Q&A Tell us a little about LightSpeed Broadband and what you do. Here at LightSpeed we’re building a next generation full fibre network to bring fast, fun and stress-free broadband to homes and businesses across the East of England. Many areas of Lincolnshire have slow and unreliable internet connections, which could be holding them back compared to other larger towns and cities - where bigger providers are updating the infrastructure. By building our own high quality network in the region we can bring guaranteed speeds of 1 Gigabit per second (upload and download) and because it's fibre all the way into the home it provides a more stable and reliable connection than standard fibre broadband. What does LightSpeed Broadband do that differentiates it from traditional internet providers? We're here because we believe everyone deserves access to fast, reliable broadband; especially as we rely on the internet so much more now in our daily lives. We understand how tricky some of the big providers can be to deal with, so making sure our customers have a great experience when they join us is our top priority, and we go above and beyond to help get their homes set up properly from the start, with the right equipment and advice. In terms of the technology, most providers in the area use fibre to the cabinet for their superfast broadband services, and then the final distance from the cabinet to a customers' home is the copper telephone line, never intended for connecting to the internet. It's the copper part of the connection that causes slower speeds and poor reliability. Our network uses brand new state-of-the-art fibre optic cables all the way to the home so that no bandwidth is lost and the internet needs of our customers are future-proofed for years to come. A full fibre connection is not only fast but also up to five times more reliable – able to cater for an ever Connecting to the future with LightSpeed Broadband Jake Allen, Sales Manager at LightSpeed Broadband Lincolnshire has always struggled with internet speeds due to its rural locations, but one company is looking to change that, and has already done so for many in the south of the county. This month we sat down with Jake Allen, Sales Manager at LightSpeed Broadband to find out how homes and businesses can access internet speeds of 1 Gigabit. 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 13:59 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 LIGHTSPEED BROADBAND Q&A more technologically advanced home filled with multiple streaming and Wi-Fi reliant devices. Our speeds of 1 Gigabit per second (that's 1000 Mbps) are 23x faster than current speeds from the standard fibre broadband available in Boston – just one area that we’re connecting. We’ve partnered with Nokia for all our in-home equipment, from the Wi-Fi 6 LightSpeed Hub to the Wi-Fi Beacons which provide a mesh solution for larger homes, or harder to reach places for example where Wi-Fi signals have been a problem for a customer in the past. Lincolnshire has always been a rural county with difficulties connecting to good internet. What areas do you currently cover, and what plans do you have for the future? We’re live in five towns in the south of Lincolnshire, including Boston, Stamford, Bourne, Skegness and Spalding, along with smaller villages surrounding them such as Market Deeping. We're also live in King's Lynn in Norfolk. You can check online to see whether your area falls within our planned build area. All you need to do is enter your postcode online and our handy checker will tell you if your home or business is in our plans; and from there you can register your interest or place your order. You can find that at www.lightspeed.co.uk As for the future, our ambition is to bring our network to 200,000 homes and businesses by the end of 2022. Thousands of customers can connect now and we’re going to be live in Long Sutton and Holbeach within the next month or so, and Sleaford will follow. We're also building the network in Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk. Check the website for more details. With all this extra speed and Nokia equipment, installation must surely be costly and time-consuming? You might be surprised about that. A home set up appointment is typically a couple of hours long, and they can be booked as soon as you've placed your order for 10-15 days' time. At which point one of our local engineers will call and then visit to connect your home to the network on your chosen day. We’ll also set up the LightSpeed Hub in the home, and connect any Wi-Fi Beacons if you ordered any, and get you up and running in no time at all. In terms of cost, the upfront fee for the installation is only £30, and Beacons cost £80 each and can be ordered any time. From then on, the price will depend on whether it is a 12- or 24-month contract, with prices at £44.95 a month or £39.95 a month respectively. This is really good value when you consider Sky and BT who currently charge between £30 and £35 a month for standard fibre services with lower speeds. Our engineers, customer services and network operations teams are local, working from our base in Spalding, which means our teams are readily at hand much quicker than with national brands - no long waits, or transfers here! With thousands more homes getting access to our network each week, it’s our goal to become the region's leading provider so no one gets left behind. If you want to find out if LightSpeed can connect your home or business to Gigabit broadband, check online at www.lightspeed.co.uk or call 01775 830 830 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 13:59 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Platinum Queen “Queen Elizabeth II will become the first British monarch to celebrate their platinum jubilee, with events scheduled throughout the year. I very much admire her for her service to our country, unwavering professionalism and, if you’ve meaning Art with Neil Pengelly’s art combines vibrant colours with gritty, urban realism to create stunning works that convey powerful messages. This month we look at some of his works and hear Neil’s thoughts on what inspired him to create them. Platinum Queen ever watched The Crown, her intellect and humour. I doubt the world will see another like her for some time, so we should feel lucky to have been here.” War is Over “It’s been over forty years since his untimely and tragic passing, and while his message remains the same, the world is still not listening! This is my little message of peace and love to all. The image is self-explanatory (I hope) and is resplendent with messages of peace including peace lilies, poppies for the War is Over 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:00 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. wars fought, and the colour turquoise, which is the colour of peace and tranquillity.” Shine on – Madchester “Those who know me will not be surprised that after `Rave` I would create this. `Shine On` is my interpretation of the late 80’s and early 90’s era of Madchester. Oasis were just on the doorstep (quite literally in the artwork) whilst the kings of baggy, freak dancin’, and shoegazers were throwing out their amazing and life-changing tunes. This was my time – the time when I became a man – and my life.” Wonderland “This is my interpretation of the wonderful and sometimes odd world of Alice in Wonderland. Wouldn’t we all like to take a trip here one day? Eat a mushroom to make you grow, another to make you shrink and then have a chat with a talking caterpillar. For a book written in 1862 it’s pretty messed up, even for me. It’s why I love it so much. Have a look and see if you can find the Cheshire cat, the clock, the bumbling queen and a few other references to the old story.” Shine on – Madchester Wonderland If you’d like to see Neil’s work for yourself, head down to Lincoln’s Little Red Gallery 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:00 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY J une is a month that turns the garden into a quickly changing picture as plants continue their rapid growth, some already in flower and many others forcing their budding stems upwards into the light. During the longest days of the year, provided there is enough moisture in the soil, nearly all plants will revel in these conditions. We are also starting to be in our gardens more as the light and warm evenings enable us to sit out for longer. However so are your neighbours! At times we all want a bit of privacy, so how do we achieve this in a modern garden? With all the modern planning constraints and the shortages of land, modern houses are often overlooked from multiple sides. There are three types of screening: the living, non-living and the hybrid screening. Live screening usually consists of placing tall plants in strategic places in your garden. Examples that spring to mind are bamboo, which if the correct clump forming varieties are selected should be easily managed - you can also plant with a root barrier membrane for added security from it spreading. Other live options are trained trees such as espalier fruit trees, or for a more modern look pleached Hornbeam can look very effective and give excellent privacy for 10 months of the year. For a cottage garden with a twist, you could look at a living willow structure such as an arbour. The advantages of the living screens are that they tend to look more natural and are often less imposing than hard landscaping, but they do however require more maintenance to keep them at the desired size. Non-living screens can be more of a feature within a garden, and an opportunity to introduce different materials such as hardwood, brick, canvas, or metal. Pergolas and archways can give a real feeling of stability, which in an ever-changing garden can be refreshing. The hybrid screens are those that have As we spend more time outside, Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping highlights how to create some privacy in your garden through different types of screening. © stock.adobe.com/ imagesab Peace and privacy Peace and privacy 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:03 Page 1• Plant out annual summer bedding plants now the risk of frost has passed. • Plant up containers, hanging baskets and planters. • Pinch out the tips of Fuchsias to encourage more flowers. • As soon as your sweet peas start to flower, keep picking them to encourage more blooms. • Harvest salad crops and re-sow every 2 weeks for a constant supply of tasty leaves. • Start to prune your plum or cherry trees now. • Protect any developing fruits from birds and squirrels by placing netting around your plants. • Use water butts as much as you can to water your plants. • Keep removing blanketweed from your pond to allow the plants and fish room to breathe. • Keep feeding the birds and provide them with water. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 FULLERS Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com GARDEN ADVICE plants growing over a structure to give rigidity and form. A trellis with an appropriate climber can be a very effective wall. As with a net curtain, a garden screen doesn’t have to have complete cover for it to work. For example, three or four stainless steel wires with a passion flower growing on them can create an impressive backdrop. The last hybrid option is a “fedge.” This is a cross between a fence and a hedge! Usually this consists of live willow pushed into the ground to build a fence, this can then be plaited to create a decorative structure. Whichever option you choose to make your garden hideaway, remember that some of the taller permanent structures may require planning permission, so please check with your local authority before spending your pocket money. Here at Fullers we pride ourselves on creating outside spaces that suit each individual client’s budget regardless of the area’s size and shape. I have built up the family company over the last 20 years to provide specialised services in garden design and landscaping. With every project we do we work closely with our clients to create your perfect garden and help you use your space more wisely. This can be through innovative and inventive designs or by making some small changes that can make a big impact. Therefore, if you want to transform your external area then we could help you realise its potential. © stock.adobe.com/Christine © stock.adobe.com/Ekaterina Specialised Service in Garden Design and Landscaping Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutions Around the garden 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:03 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY With summer on the horizon, doubtless more of us will be spending our afternoons and evenings outside. G ood weather alone doesn’t make for alfresco living, which owes as much to the garden setting. Already, outdoor enthusiasts will have seen their hard work pay off as their borders bloom into a riot of scents and colours. This begs the question as to whether your garden needs a little TLC on the hard landscaping front – indeed for some it might be the perfect time to undertake that major renovation you’ve been promising yourself – for others it could be just a slight redesign here and there. It seems every year the garden centres and DIY stores do their utmost to seduce us into investing in new furniture or features, and you can be sure there’ll be plenty of additional pieces this year which will add interest or a new focal point to your garden. So, why fight it? To fully enjoy a relaxing drink on a warm day or even an alfresco meal on a gorgeous spring evening, elegant garden furniture ensures you can do so in style. It’s essential to do your homework before purchasing garden furniture though as you will want it to last. Buy the first table and chair set you see and you could end up making a very costly mistake. Quality of workmanship and durability are of course the first consideration but aren’t the only thing to think about. The position you will place it and frequency with which you use it should be a deciding factor too. After all there’s nothing worse than placing light furniture by a pond, only to find a sudden turn of weather has blown it all into the water, horrifying the Koi carp and saturating the cushions with dirty water. Likewise if you live in an area that’s open to the elements, or are overlooked by neighbours, you might want to invest in a summer house or even a conservatory, which nowadays can be fitted with bi-fold doors to open up an entire face of the conservatory so you don’t feel like you’re sat in looking out, so to speak. The style of any new garden feature will also depend on how you see your garden in relation to the rest of the house. If your garden is a continuation of your home, you can choose to carry this theme through in the furniture and/or, the choice of materials in flooring. Some of the accessories you add to your garden will be particularly useful as opposed to the ones purely for decorative purposes. If you like to spend a lot of time Garden getaway Garden getaway 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:04 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 GARDENS © stock.adobe.com/slavun outdoors, heating the seating area is essential and in addition to the normal patio heaters there are plenty of other options for when the nights feel a little too chilly to relax totally. Available options include overhead infrared heating that is evolving to become more energy efficient or there’s firepits which can be both attractive and practical – in fact they can also double as a grill for cooking with. Then there’s those wonderful water features – many of us already have ponds of some description, but adding some finishing touches such lights to a waterfall or cascading fountain add real panache that will radiate throughout the entire garden and turn a nice daytime feature into a mesmerising centrepiece by night. If your garden is more compact, don’t despair, there are lots of water feature products you can include such as a raised pond with waterfall, a millstone on the patio which oozes water over onto cobbles, or even an old tub lined with Butyl which allows water to cascade from an old fashioned water pump. If you have big plans for your garden this the year, now is the time to get stuck in or hire a reputable tradesman to create that feature you always dreamed of – that way by the time the summer months come you can be sat sipping your G&T in your favourite spot and an open space to relax in the heatwave that they’ll no doubt promise us once again. © stock.adobe.com/Stephen © stock.adobe.com/Photographee.eu © stock.adobe.com/Nadezda Verbenko © stock.adobe.com/ronstik Charles H Hill Ltd. Moor Lane, Horsington, Woodhall Spa, LN10 5HH. Tel: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 20/05/2022 14:04 Page 2Next >